The reverses have been designed by Claire Aldridge and complement one another beautifully with each featuring a border symbolising a bird’s eye view of the new stadium, a countdown 'clock' and the London 2012 Olympic logo highlighted in colour.
The 2009 coin depicts the sport of Swimming with the figure '3' overlaid to denote the first year of the countdown. The 2010 coin is now available and focuses on Athletics with the figure '2' overlaid.
Each coin comes with its own certificate of authenticity which, for those who purchase the coins in the four-coin case, will bear matching numbers.
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The third coin will be available in 2011 and will feature the sport of Cycling with the figure '1' overlaid. The final coin pictures the ultimate dream of every Olympian, picturing the three triumphant medallists on the winners’ podium. Being legal tender £5 coins of the UK, all four companion coins will bear the portrait of the Queen by Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS.
The Countdown
The countdown effectively began in September 2008 when the Olympic Flag was passed to the Mayor of London and the world was invited to London for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
As tradition dictates, the Olympic Torch will be lit in Olympia and, in a final invitation to people everywhere, will make its journey around the world before arriving in London in time to light the cauldron at the Opening Ceremony on 27 July 2012. The Paralympic Opening Ceremony will take place on 29 August 2012.
The Olympic Park in London's Lower Lea Valley will then become home to over 10,000 of the world’s greatest athletes during August and September and will welcome up to 180,000 spectators a day. There will be more than 200 competing nations in 17 days of Olympic competitions and 11 days of Paralympic events. The magnificent new stadium will comfortably seat an audience of 80,000 but the events will be watched by millions around the world.